Van/camper to India
 

Hi guys, i am looking for a camper van for overland to India and then around India. I don't really know which model to get. Onyl two of us so a smaller van would be better. It seems to be a balance between the following:

1. Purchase price and carnet costs - cheaper would be better
2. Age and general reliability - especially the availablity of parts and roadside tech knowledge in India.
3. Petrol verses diesel - Fuel ecomony/cost (I assume diesel will be cheaper) verses the ability to drive the van home to London in 2011 without a £200/day fine (!!!) because the low emission charge may still come in for diesel vans.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance
Rupert

Vw
 

just an idea.
why not a vw camper? not the classic shape but the newer version, T25.
i'd go for a petrol because fuel is cheap once you get out of europe. they are easy to fix should you have to and parts are cheap.
then again, s/h prices in the uk may have gone up?
i suppose it depends on your reasons and budget. i wish i could do this trip, i'd choose a series 3 landrover lwb self converted for overland travel.
but i'm a silly romantic old fool! there are better choices like the lancruiser or later offerings from LR.
pick up a copy of first overland if you need some inspiration!
pete

I would think hard about getting anything too modern/electronic if you're going somewhere like India. They don't have the diagnostic equipment.

Also bear in mind that any camper van with a built-on body, as opposed to one with camping facilities inside the existing metal skin, will be far less resilient over bad roads.

VWs are OK, subject to the above. Also consider a Toyota Hi-Ace?

Failing that, you could always do what I did and get a 4x4 with a roof tent.

merc
 

I went in a 608 Merc. was very good really. I disagree about going for petrol. I would go for diesel everytime. pre 2000 2,5di transits are good and cheap (they dont have electronic injector pumps) get a low milage one if poss, they go on and on though. there is always a merc sprinter there ok too more expensive but better built,

Graeme

Thanks guys, I like the T25 idea, do you think a T4 would be too technically advanced for a roadside repair?

T4?
 

Early T4’s with the 2.4 5 cylinder engine are pretty much devoid of any electronics so could be a good choice, pretty cheap now too.

Later 1.9 and 2.5TDi’s are still pretty basic but do have electronically managed diesel pumps.

We have a T4 2.5TDi excellent build quality and reliability.

Although I have a soft spot for older VW campers IMHO they are getting too old and fragile now.

Old Merc. Maybe a 308 would be a good choice too.

anything with a Toyota badge - and , oh yes, diesel:thumbup1:- they can run 24/7

Amazingly I've just seen an old old Toyota Hiace, looks great and well priced. I trust Toyota's. It is a petrol but only does 25mpg :thumbdown:. I like the idea of petrol but apart from fuel efficency does petrol really lose out that much to diesel?

Consider the Bongo mon ami - or smth like it, especially if you are tall.

Bongo Fury!

Or 2-3k-worth of the best diesel white van you can find from the usual marques.

You dont need a 4WD to get to India.

25mpg from a petrol Hiace looks pretty good to me, but I'd always err to a diesel.

This lot did it in a T4 - Round the World 2007 - Helen Simpson and Michael Broadwith - dirty fuel probs in Tadz was all that went wrong, I believe.

Ch

me hopes the Toyota will be more reliable than my 12GS - just holed a piston!:scooter:

I agree: Diesel [who said that petrol is cheaper outside Europe?], and you don't need a 4x4 to get to India. But if you like 4x4 it can be a lot of fun...

Just saw this ad... might be worth looking into...

Seventeen and a half thousand Euros?
Is that what it costs nowadays to get an overlanding vehicle? And with 270,000km on the clock?
I know it's an ideal one, but nevertheless.

Is it me who thinks these things are overpriced, even with all the used kit it seems to have.
Then you still need to fettle it to how you want it and not the previous owner.
I'd prefer the cheap low mileage van option knowing it's not 4x4 or whatever, but that's just my opinion.

choice
 

The petrol/diesel debate will run and run (like a diesel!), but like I said it was my choice not advice. There are pros and cons for both but it seems seasoned travellers (I'm not) suggest diesel so you must follow their good advice.
Petrol is certainly cheaper where I live (66 cents/litre) but maybe not so good elsewhere. I just remember it being nearly £1 a litre when I left the UK, hence my comment.
I agree diesels have better longevity, are more economical and are hardy old things. Most overlanders opt for this, so the sensible thing is to follow.
But I'm still a romantic old fool, and a T25 or Series 3 is my choice.
Tow rope anyone....? :helpsmilie:

T25
 

Another thought...
What about a T25 with an Audi/Vw 1.9 TDI in the back? I remember there are a few specialists who do this conversion and even remember seeing some pre-converted motors on ebay. If you look at the specialist sites like Brickwerks you may find some for sale.
Or budget permitting, go for a Syncro! 4WD, twin diff locks if that's your idea of fun! But be careful, they can go horribly (read:expensive) wrong.
Pete

[quote=AntonD;240420]Seventeen and a half thousand Euros?
Is that what it costs nowadays to get an overlanding vehicle? And with 270,000km on the clock?
I know it's an ideal one, but nevertheless.
quote]

I couldn't agree more, look what a RHD Land Cruiser VX 5 door costs in the UK with 100.000 miles +/- £3500 roof tent and fit the back out for what £5000

Same story with a LR ...

Building the car is half the fun isnt ......

Out of interest how far is it to India in Km's / weeks ....

Always dreaming

Salut
Matt

Maybe too left field for you but check out ex-military GAZ66. Six litre of your Russian V8, four wheel drive with locking, fully winched up and they can go anywhere (I mean ANYWHERE!), simple as clockwork so that even an illiterate Russian conscript can fix. With a camper box on the back can be had with very few Km's, here in the UK for ~£2k.

Check out the zil131.com forum and ask around the GAZ section for tips and advice. Meanwhile, here's a GAZ in action:
http://www.russiantruck.co.uk/images...z66-denver.wmv

The T1 diesel Mercs are a good way to go, Force Motors in India now make them, so spares are also available for everything but the engines from the Force Dealers. Merc are also excellent at supporting vehicles with spares they have sold anywhere in the world without emptying your bank account.

You can pick up a T1 (308/309/310) Merc Westfalia campervan in Germany for 4000 to 8000 Euros. Seen a few with as little as 125,000kms on the clock, which for a Merc is just about run in.

That's awesome! I love the shape of those - looks like they make them with petrol engines 'only' - unless the "BS III" engine is a diesel?

I wonder if they're making them under license / have purchased the blueprint and the rights - interesting that a van that has been discontinued by MB is still been made under another 'label' in India - typical!

This bodes well for service on our 4x4 312d if we need it in India...

Kai

I think its a joint venture of some sort, the whole T1 production line was sold and shipped out to India, so there will be a few worn body panel presses - maybe the reason for a new bonnet design. I think Force have a joint venture with MAN as well.

Sounds like we’re in a similar predicament, we’re planning 3-4 months India… however looking to ship our vehicle out there. So needs to fit into a shipping container.

The only thing I promised the wife was a comfy bed and the ability to sit inside the vehicle…

Thought a lot about the T25 (T3) VW – maybe with a engine conversion 1.9tdi or 2.2 scooby motor but it – well leaves me a little cold, I had a old T2 and it was so unreliable, slow and noisy.

Would love a LR or Toyo but then its roof tents every night – that’s a no go with the mrs’s


So I’m now thinking of a pick-up with clip on back ?


Cheers
Matt

Hi we are doing that trip at the moment and are currently in istanbul . We aare in an Iveco 4x4 1993 55 mile max but thats plenty. Old fashioned diesel, and rubber mounted body to save cuboards falling of wall howver romanian roads still caused a few screws to work their way loose.

Your right a good size bed is so important no sleep equals grumpy days and arguments. we started with the bed and built from there.

All the the vehcles of there advantages and disadvantages, old noisy slow but simple. Versus quick better handling but trouble if you have bad fuel or problems.

You dont need a 4x4 to get to india but its nice to pull into fields, beaches etc to camp. we tend to drive off out of sight into fields if having to stop on main roads. I would have got stuck without the 4x4 by now.

Small vehicles with roof tents dont have to worry about height restrictions and are lighter hence cheaper to run. However solid sides on a van feel secure and are properly more secure with a decent door and small, high windows. If you go unimog or truck size you have the luxury of a permenant bed which would be lovely. But we manage with breaking the bed up and down.

Also if your in small vehicle you coud run from hostel to hostel and mix in a bit of camping.

Found it useful being a major manufacture iveco dealers/parts everywhere.

good luck save the money and go.

Loads of info on this subject on this website.

Jo and Mark Overland

very common for vehicles and engines, old landrover 300 tdi engine production went to brazil, old toyotas and vw's to south africa, gm's to korea.

Not mant imported vehicles in india so i don't think you'll get parts easily, not for a modern merc 4x4 van if i was just doing india, i'd fly out and buy an indian vehicle rather than shipping a european vehicle

now if you do ship then fill it with 900x16 tyres for the return journey - might pay for the shipping :-)

The Germans have some great Overland campers for sale, starting from 3500 Euros. Check out the Mobile.de site, or click this link for campers from that site with 4wd, in English:
Search Results: Motorhomes on mobile.de

Travelling Tim, currently in Nova Scotia